Before the sun rose Frank's rescue party fully realised their position-- that they were prisoners, guarded by about twenty of the Baggara chief's followers, and in charge of a temporary hospital, with the leader's son as the principal patient. "We must look our trouble, if trouble it is, straight in the face, Frank, my lad," said the professor, "and hope all will turn out for the best." "Yes," replied Frank, with a sigh; "but of course we cannot stir from here, and the time is going so fast." "But we reckoned upon meeting with obstacles, and this one may prove to be a help in the end." "I hope so," said the young man despondently, his manner seeming to belie his words. "But what about the future--I mean when these men need no more attention?" "My idea of the future is that the chief has gone with his men upon some raid already arranged, and that we shall have them back before long." "Yes," said Frank, "he is sure to return on account of his son. Then we must wait." "Yes, and as patiently as we can, my lad." "And have as good an account to give the father as we can on his return," said the doctor, who had been listening in silence. "It is very trying, Frank, to be checked like this, and so soon; but one thing is certain, the Baggara chief means to keep us to attend to his wounded, and this being a warlike excursion it will sooner or later come to an end, and we shall be taken pretty swiftly in the direction we want to go." "I'll try to think as you do," said Frank sadly, "and murmur as little as I can." "Fortunately we shall have very little time for brooding over our troubles," said the doctor, "for I can see nothing but hard work for days to come." "Yes," said the professor grimly; "you are getting far more professional duty, though, than we bargained for." As the day wore on there was little change visible in the young chief, who seemed to be alive, and that was all; but the Hakim was satisfied, and the other patients had certainly improved. The Sheikh reported having talked to the head of their guard, but he was far from communicative. He would not say anything about his chief's proceedings, nor even allow that he would return, but told the Arab sternly that no one must stir from the little camp; at the same time, though, he showed Ibrahim that he was left with a supply of provisions for many days to come, and that he was ready to furnish the Hakim's party with meat and corn. "Then we must wait, Ibrahim," said Frank wearily.